“Before Kenan Piric, there were local players in the team. Probably, because they were not considered worthy of the captaincy, the armband was given to a player who joined the team just a day or two ago.”
These words were said by veteran footballer Mahir Shukurov in an interview with Teleqraf, commenting on the captaincy decision at Neftchi, Idman.biz reports.
According to the decision, midfielder Emin Mahmudov was appointed as the main captain, while goalkeepers Emil Balayev and Kenan Piric were named vice-captains.
The former "Neftchi" leader did not consider it correct to give the vice-captain armband to the Bosnian goalkeeper, one of the club's new transfers: “So, there is no Azerbaijani player in the team deemed a leader, and they handed the captaincy to a foreign player. Even if a foreigner, they should have played at this club for at least 3–4 years to wear the captain's armband. Back in our time, they didn’t give the captaincy to someone like Flavinho. I had just joined 'Neftchi', and the captaincy was given to Elvin Yunuszada. At that time, Rashad Sadygov wasn’t playing, and they chose Yunuszada among the Azerbaijani players. There’s a huge difference between then and now. Giving the armband to a player who arrived yesterday, I don’t know how correct that is. It would make sense if he played for a well-known European club with a big career. They bring him here as captain so he can lead the team according to the club’s plans. In any case, it’s Samir Abasov’s decision. I suppose he wanted it that way and did it.”
Shukurov called the decision to return the armband to Emin Mahmudov a delayed one: “Samir Abasov should have made this decision from day one. There’s a hierarchy between senior and junior players. Instead, he gave it to the young goalkeeper. The previous coach, Roman Grygorchuk, had some issues with the player or management and changed it. Abasov should have given the captaincy as soon as he arrived at 'Neftchi'.”
The former captain also considered it a wrong move to select the young goalkeeper Rza Jafarov as a leader: “It wouldn’t be right to keep the captaincy with him. I am against giving the armband to a young player. A seasoned footballer is needed to have authority in the team.”
Mahir Shukurov played for "Neftchi" from July 2006 to July 2007, from July 2012 to August 2014, and from October 2016 to July 2017. He ended his career at "Neftchi".
Idman.biz
